Odisha NIT sexual exploitation row: CSO seeks anticipatory bail

Balaram Champatiray, the chief security officer (CSO) of National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela who is accused of sexually exploiting his female subordinate colleagues today moved the Orissa High Court seeking anticipatory bail.

Champatiray was suspended by NIT Rourkela authorities following allegations by at least eight female security guards working under him.

Earlier in the day a fact-finding committee formed by the NIT director today submitted its report.

The institution’s director Sunil Sarangi has forwarded the fact-finding committee’s report to the standing committee of the institute.

Notably, Champatiray has been on the run since May 28 when the first FIR against him was filed at the Sector 3 police station.

As informed by DSP P K Mishra five police teams were on the lookout for Champatiray.

NIT students had resorted to dharna on May 25 demanding Champatiray’s arrest following coming to light of alleged sexual exploitation of a woman security officer by him.

The students had shown photographs and video of Champatiray’s exploits to media persons.

However, students withdrew their dharna on June 2 following closed-door meeting between the students and NIT authorities.

On the same day, Rajesh Singh Solanki, under secretary in the Union Human Resource Development Ministry had visited Rourkela in connection with the NIT issue and had conducted an inquiry.

Solanki had held meetings with the students, teachers, fact-finding committee and institution’s director on the issue.